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Estimate: $ 400 - $ 600
Heermann, Lewis (1779-1833) Directions for the Medicine Chest, Author's Annotated Presentation Copy.
New Orleans, Louisiana: Printed by John Mowry, & Co., 1811.
First edition, octavo, handwritten dedication leaf preceding the title presenting this copy to William Jones, Secretary of the Navy, 11 lines in a neat cursive hand; the text interleaved with blanks throughout, bearing notes on the blanks and edits in the text in the same hand scattered throughout, from minor spelling corrections to one or two more lengthy asides; with extra blanks added at beginning and end; in its original custom presentation binding, textured sheepskin with gold tooling on spine and front board, which is lettered, "Heerman's Directions," (slightly rubbed, generally nicely preserved); 7 5/8 x 4 1/2 in.
German-born Heerman joined the U.S. Navy in 1802 as Surgeon's Mate. He was active during the War with the Barbary States. He stepped in for Stephen Decatur in command of the bomb ketch Intrepid and captured the frigate Philadelphia from pirates in Tripoli Harbor. After the war, he was an advocate for improved medical care for seamen and was instrumental in persuading Congress to approve funds to build hospitals at U.S. naval stations. He arrived in New Orleans in the year this book was printed, serving as Fleet Surgeon for the U.S. Squadron. He presented his work, which outlines the 50 medicines and supplies that should be found in a naval surgeon's medicine chest, to Navy Secretary William Jones (1760-1831). Jones, addressed by Heerman with this title in the presentation, did not become Secretary until 1813. Not only was Jones a teenage naval veteran of the American Revolution, he was also at various points in his career a member of the House of Representatives, acting Secretary of the Treasury, and President of the Second Bank of the United States.
